By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Rebekah Krieg, a seventh-grade student at Quinn Middle School in Hudson, was recently honored by the Marlborough Lions Club for her entry in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest held late last year.
Rebekah won first place for her poster, entitled “Share Peace” at the local club level (Marlborough) and then advanced and won first place at the district level. She then won second place at the state level.
Over 450,000 middle school students from around the world participate in this annual competition designed to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people. The contest also provides Lions the opportunity to interact with young people in their communities.
The Marlborough club honored Rebekah during a ceremony held Jan. 27 at Stephen Anthony’s Banquet Hall and presented her with an award certificate and check, along with additional awards from district and multi-district levels.
“The meaning behind this poster is the peace between cultures and countries. Peace is a beautiful thing, and I had an idea for a poster that could encompass just a small piece of the meaning of it, which is why I had entered the contest,” Rebekah said.
“The dove symbolizes the calmness that peace creates, while the bright colors around it represent the joy that is welcomed because of it,” she said. “The last thing is the flags that the emblem rests on top of. These are intended to show that this peace can affect so many lives.”
In making the presentation, Marlborough Lions Club President Mark Gibbs complimented Rebekah on her entry – its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme. Present at the meeting were her parents, Heather and Larry Krieg; Quinn Middle School Principal Jason Webster, and art teacher Diane Hoff.
“Our club is very proud of Rebekah, as her poster advanced to such a high level in the competition,” said Laura Koester, Marlborough Lions Peace Poster chair. “We were impressed with the caliber of the posters entered from all the local children this year.”
Other students, 11 to 13 years of age from the Quinn Middle School, Whitcomb Middle School in Marlborough and the Marlborough Boys and Girls Club, participated.